Joseph Curl KC specialises in insolvency litigation. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2021.

He is currently ranked as a leading silk in both the major legal directories. Chambers and Partners 2024 describes him as follows:

“He has forensic attention to detail and extensive expertise, combined with a highly persuasive and compelling advocacy style.”

Legal 500 2024 says:

“Tenacious and courteous advocacy style, really fights his clients’ corner, deep expertise and specialist knowledge of insolvency law.”

Joseph’s recent work includes two appeals on standing to challenge an office-holder’s conduct, which are now the leading authorities on this question in corporate and personal insolvency respectively: in the Court of Appeal in Re Edengate Homes (Butley Hall) Ltd; Lock v Stanley [2022] EWCA Civ 626; and in the Supreme Court in Brake v Chedington Court Estate Ltd [2023] UKSC 29.

His earlier work includes several cases on office-holder duties, including Re ARY Digital UK Ltd; Brewer v Iqbal [2019] EWHC 182 (Ch) (liquidator’s misfeasance claim against a former administrator for undersale of assets); Davey v Money [2018] EWHC 766 (six-week trial before Snowden J concerning allegations of misfeasance against administrators); Re Zinc Hotels (Holdings) Ltd [2018] EWHC 1936 (Ch) (five-sided application to appoint additional interim administrators against the wishes of the QFCH); and Re Longmeade Ltd [2016] EWHC 356 (Ch) (liquidator’s decision-making where proposed claim opposed by majority of creditors).